Final answer:
The statement that dinosaurs had a nearly worldwide distribution during the Late Triassic is True. Dinosaurs expanded to diverse ecological niches during this period, and although volcanic activity affected their habitats, they had already established a global presence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dinosaurs indeed had a nearly worldwide distribution during the Late Triassic, which makes the statement True. The Triassic Period was a time when the supercontinent Pangaea began to separate into landmasses that would eventually resemble our current continents.
Dinosaurs branched off from the reptiles and eventually expanded to occupy diverse ecological niches on land, with some even venturing into aquatic and aerial realms. The global climate during the Late Triassic was warm, allowing dinosaurs to thrive in a variety of habitats. Volcanic activity at the end of this period contributed to the break-up of Pangaea, but by that time, dinosaurs had already established their presence across the world.
The Jurassic Period followed, known as the golden age of dinosaurs, where they further flourished, dominating the landscapes. And despite the misconception that dinosaurs exclusively ruled the Triassic, nocturnal niches were occupied by small therapsids like the cynodonts, which dinosaurs did not take over. The Mesozoic Era, sometimes called the Age of Reptiles, saw dinosaurs diversify to reach their peak in size and distribution by the end of the Cretaceous, prior to their dramatic extinction event.